Improvement in ash-sifters



J. W. L ITTLEPIELD.

Ash-Sifter Patented Dec. 25, I877.

I NVENTEIR WITNEES E5 NPETERSI FNOTD-LITHOGRAFMER. WASHINGYON, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT QFFIOE.

JOHN W. LITTLEFIELD, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN ASH-SIFTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 198,518, dated December 25, 1877; application filed December 8, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it knowm that I, J OHN W. LITTLEFIELD, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Ash-Sifters, which improvement is fully set forth and described in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view, in perspective, of an ash-sifter embodying my invention; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of a portion of the sifter, taken either from the bottom or the side.

In this invention the sifter, which is used mainly for sifting ashes, gravel, or. other coarse or similar material, is constructed with sides as well as bottom of open Wire-work, as seen in the drawings. The vertical (or nearly vertical) wires at the sides are arranged so as to converge toward and meet at the top or rim 0. After the sifter is entirely put together it is galvanized as a Whole.

The galvanizing process not only protects the sifter from the effects of moisture, but also greatly strengthens and stiffens it. At every point where the wires intersect they are, so to speak, cemented together by the galvanizing process. At the points where they bend around the rim they are thus soldered or fastened. Great strain comes upon an ash-sifter at the upper portion of its sides, or that portion near the rim or band 0.

By means of the peculiar arrangement of my wires, as above described, converging and meeting at the top, and afterward galvanized, great strength and stiffiiess are secured.

When the sifter is agitated by means of the handle a and swinging rod b, the ashes are driven through the sides and bottom, and the process is quickly and thoroughly performed without injury-to the sifter.

Rotary motion may be applied to the sifter, if desired, in place of the devices a b.

I am, of course, aware that fine wire-cloth has been frequently used in diflerent portions of and positions in various culinary and table articles, such as dish-covers, strainers, fiytraps, sieves, and the like. I claim nothing covered by such inventions, as none of them would be suitable for my purpose.

My device is a sifter for use in sifting or separating ashes and coarse material-such as is found in foundries, for example, and other places-the material sifting through the coarse mesh without any forcing other than the motion of the sifter.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

A sifter for ashes or other material, having open-wire sides and bottom, the vertical (or nearly vertical) side wires converging and meeting at the top or rim 0, the said sifter being galvanized as a whole after having been put together, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

JOHN W. LITTLEFIELD.

Witnesses:

HENRY W. WILLIAMS, B. W. WILLIAMS. 

